New stirrings in the Sangh, but how serious?

Only the prejudiced will deny that the RSS is going through a phase of transition

Two interesting reports about the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh RSS appeared last week. One informed us that the RSS has invited Congress president Sonia Gandhi for a function to mark the birth centenary of M.S. Golwalkar 8216;Guruji8217;, its second sarsanghchalak, on February 18. The second report quoted Madandas Devi, the Sangh8217;s genial joint general-secretary, as saying that his organisation supports strong governmental action for the welfare of all socially backward groups, including poor Muslims, though not on the basis of religion.

Devi, who is moderate both in his thoughts and words, was speaking in the context of the RSS reaction to the Sachar Committee report on the socio-economic conditions of Indian Muslims. 8220;We have neither accepted it nor rejected it. We will discuss it at our forthcoming pratinidhi sabha,8221; he said.

On an earlier occasion, Devi had remarked that the RSS was not loath to forging close links with other political parties, including the Congress. Probably to dispel a specific criticism that his organisation has increasingly invited in recent times, he had also said: 8220;The RSS does not want to interfere in the affairs of the BJP. The party should take its own decisions.8221;

Serious students of political and social developments in India will not dismiss these reports as of no significance, as will surely be done by many political leaders whose denigration of the RSS is predictable 8212; 8220;communal8221;, 8220;Hindu-fascist8221;, 8220;obscurantist8221; 8212; and un-nuanced, whatever be the issue in question.

But objective understanding and healthy debate require an attitude of critical openness that looks at any organisation in an integral manner. A genuinely truth-seeking approach does not rule out new stirrings and a complex, often contradictory, process of evolution in any living entity. Therefore, even those who are critical of the RSS 8212; and there is much to be critical about it 8212; should know that the RSS too is going through a phase of transition.

The above-mentioned reports are no doubt tentative, and by no means conclusive indicators of its self-transformation. But only the prejudiced will deny the churning taking place within the Sangh and its Parivar.

But will this churning be welcomed by all in the Parivar? Do they know the responsibility that the process of change will cast upon them? Take the case of Guruji8217;s centenary celebrations. He was undoubtedly a great personality. Unfortunately, he is a victim of relentless propaganda by communist intellectuals, most of whom have not bothered to read beyond some of his controversial and unacceptable statements. His thoughts and life-work deserve to be assessed fairly and holistically, which the mass media have failed to do.

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Therefore, the RSS has done well to attempt to broad-base its appeal, using the centenary celebrations as a platform. Sonia Gandhi will surely, and for obvious reasons, turn down the saffron invitation. So will most others. But if the RSS leaders are sincere about wanting to forge close links with the Congress and other non-BJP parties, they should ask themselves, in the spirit of unsparing self-criticism, why they have failed utterly so far in this endeavour.

Have they even made any sincere and sustained efforts in this direction? Aren8217;t there Hindus in non-BJP parties? Why is the Sangh8217;s political influence confined only to the BJP, whose own support base is confined to only 25 per cent of the votes polled? Can the RSS really advance towards its goal of Hindu awakening 8212; a legitimate and necessary task, according to me, if it is seen and pursued in a non-communal manner 8212; without the cooperation of non-BJP parties?

If the answer is in the negative, then the RSS must redefine its present relationship with the BJP. It must demonstrate, not in words but in practice, Devi8217;s questionable claim that the 8220;RSS does not interfere in the affairs of the BJP.8221;

The RSS must also seriously introspect about its failure 8212; which is indeed the source of the BJP8217;s failure too 8212; to reach out to Indian Muslims. Opposition to Muslim fanaticism, extremism and separatism is indeed necessary, if we do not want to see India weakened and Indian Muslims8217; own development hindered. But RSS leaders should ask themselves: Can Muslim extremism be countered by Hindu extremism? Will it strengthen India? If the answer is in the negative, then the RSS must strive to forge a new fraternal relationship with Indian Muslims. Hence, Devi8217;s support for affirmative action for the benefit of 8220;backward8221; Muslims deserves to be welcomed.

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True, there is much in the Sachar report that panders to the separatist mindset among a section of Muslims. But there is also something positive in it that sheds light on the appalling socio-economic backwardness afflicting most Indian Muslims. A Hindu who is unmoved by their plight is neither a good Hindu nor a good Indian. Therefore, both the RSS and the BJP, which take pride in being nationalist, must advance an effective non-appeasement approach to address Indian Muslims8217; genuine problems and concerns.

When that happens, the RSS will have succeeded, at least partially, in reaching out to those segments of India8217;s political and social spectrum that today don8217;t even share the dais with it.